Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News

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Wednesday, January 28, 2026

India and the European Union struck a longdelayed deal on Tuesday that will slash tariffs on most goods, aiming to boost twoway trade and reduce reliance on the United States amid growing global trade tensions.


White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday notably distanced President Trump from rhetoric made by high-profile members of his administration in the aftermath of the shooting death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. read more


Microsoft provided the FBI with the recovery keys to unlock encrypted data on the hard drives of three laptops as part of a federal investigation, Forbes reported on Friday. read more


Tuesday, January 27, 2026

The downfall of China's top general, second in command and once a close ally of President Xi Jinping, has thrown the leadership of the country's military into turmoil and raised questions about Taiwan's future. read more


President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that "you can't have guns" at protests ... read more


Comments

Related?

Britain's Keir Starmer arrives in China for pivotal visit
www.upi.com

... British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing on Wednesday at the head of a 60-strong delegation for a three day official visit aimed at boosting trade and re-engaging with China after almost a decade of wrangling. ...

Chatham House research fellow Yu Jie told the BBC that what China wanted to get out of improved ties with Britain was geopolitical capital and to open up its market to Chinese investment, which currently accounts for a "very minimal" 0.7% of direct foreign investment in Britain.

Yu said that in the midst of the "disruption" being wreaked by the foreign policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, Beijing may view Britain as a reliable bet that can offer "order and organization." ...


UPS is not the only one cutting jobs ...

Amazon confirms 16,000 job cuts after accidental email
www.bbc.com

... US technology giant Amazon has confirmed it will cut 16,000 jobs - hours after it told staff about a new round of global redundancies in an email apparently sent in error.

The email, which has been seen by the BBC, was sent late on Tuesday and refers to a swathe of employees in the US, Canada and Costa Rica having been laid off as part of an effort to "strengthen the company." ...


Rubio to warn of military action if Venezuela's new leaders stray from US goals
abcnews.go.com

... Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans on Wednesday to warn that the Trump administration is ready to take new military action against Venezuela if the country's interim leadership strays from U.S. expectations.

In prepared testimony for a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio says the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela and that its interim leaders are cooperating, but he notes that the Trump administration would not rule out using additional force if needed following a raid to capture former President Nicols Maduro early this month. ...



@#19 ... What would Charlie Kirk do? ...

www.newsweek.com

... Charlie Kirk's X post from March 4, 2018 read:

"The 2nd amendment is not for hunting, it is not for self protection.

It is there to ensure that free people can defend themselves if god forbid government became tyrannical and turned against its citizens." ...


Kris Kristofferson - Me and Bobby McGee (1969)
www.youtube.com

Lyrics excerpt ...

...
Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar, an ex army helicopter pilot, singer, song writer and a film actor, and a staple in country/folk music since the 1960's has written numerous personal songs about his travels in the US, meeting women and enjoying drinks and drugs.

Bobby McGee is a compilation of some of these woman, including Janis Joplin, whose version made it to the top of the charts after she died in 1971.

Her death had a profound effect on Kris Kristofferson "

Bobby McGee' was the song that made the difference for me. Every time I sing it, I still think of Janis

The song was on his album with same name.

Per the Rolling Stone - "Kris Kristofferson, was inspired to write it after seeing Federico Fellini's 1954 film La Strada, Italian for "the road.""

[Verse 3]
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free
...


More from the article ...

... Leavitt was peppered with questions during the White House press briefing about whether Trump agreed with sentiments of Pretti's killing that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller made over the weekend.

That included Noem saying Pretti "attacked" federal law enforcement while "brandishing" a firearm and saying the incident was an example of "domestic terrorism." Meanwhile, Miller referred to Pretti as a "would-be assassin" who "tried to murder federal law enforcement."

Multiple angles of video captured by witnesses of Pretti's confrontation with federal law enforcement Saturday show an officer shooting Pretti in the back after an altercation in which Pretti, filming the officers, sought to help a woman being pepper-sprayed before he was also pepper-sprayed. Video appears to show an officer taking Pretti's gun and walking away before he was shot.

When asked whether Trump agrees with Noem and Miller's sentiments on the circumstances, Leavitt said she has not heard the president "characterize Mr. Pretti in that way."

"However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself," Leavitt said.

Leavitt did not give a definitive answer when another reporter asked whether Miller will be apologizing to Pretti's family.

"Again, this incident remains under investigation, and nobody here at the White House, including the president of the United States, wants to see Americans hurt or killed and losing their lives in American streets," she responded. ...


On the other hand, from what I have seen said in the Cabinet meetings, this is apropos ...

Delaney & Bonnie - Never Ending Song of Love (1971)
www.youtube.com

Lyrics excerpt ...

genius.com

...
[Chorus]
I've got a never-endin' love for you (Ee-ha)
From now on that's all I wanna do
From the first time we met I knew
I'd have a never-endin' love for you

I've got a never-endin' love for you
From now on that's all I wanna do
From the first time we met I knew
I'd have a never-endin' love for you
...



Al Stewart - If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It (1976)
www.youtube.com

OK, here's the usual link to lyrics ...
genius.com

The full lyrics are there at that link.

But the particular lyrics of this song that I like are ...

...
Well nothing that's real is ever for free
And you just have to pay for it sometime
...


Tangentially related ...

How to Install and Log In to Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account (2025)
www.tomshardware.com

... Microsoft wants users to sign in with a Microsoft account, for tracking ...


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